Comments on: Team Preview #16: Portland Trail Blazers

By: Jeeves

Jeeves — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:12:03 +0000

I am not a believer in Oden I would have see it to believe it!

By: TC

TC — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:47:43 +0000

I have a bad feeling about Aldridge this season. Not that he’s going to regress as a player but that his minutes are going to take a hit. Aldridge played a ton of Center last year with Oden out, especially when they went small with Outlaw at PF. This year those Center minutes just aren’t going to be available because Oden is simply the better player and will be their defensive anchor. So I just can’t see a repeat of last season’s 35 mpg. something in the 28-32 range seems more likely. It’s also possible that with the added firepower this season his FGA’s will also take a hit.

By: Evil E

Evil E — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:21:08 +0000

Frye just had ankle surgery to remove bone spurs and LaFrentz is about to have shoulder surgery. This means:

A) Diogu may actually get a chance to play right away
B) Ghostface Przybilla will still get solid minutes
C) Oden better be ready to go
D) Outlaw could play some PF until Frye comes back, making him a somewhat safer late round pick

By: John L

John L — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:56:48 +0000

I hope the Blazer land Lowry and start him! I had to pick him up when Ellis went down and if he starts in Portland, whew, I have a great duo there, not to mention that I have agentzero too.

E – When are we going to see a Clipper review? HaHaHa (inside joke)

By: Evil E

Evil E — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:38:55 +0000

Clearly, there are conflicting opinions on Oden. I’m definitely not expecting him to dominate, but I think he can pull down 9-10 boards per game because A) Przybilla led the team last year with 8.4 in just 23.6 minutes and B) Aldridge, Frye, Webster, etc. aren’t great rebounders. If Oden was on say…Memphis, I would be much more worried about his offensive output, but the Blazers have so much more talent to surround him with and take pressure off him. Their guards can create, their forwards can shoot, etc.

Speaking of the Grizz, there’s no way in hell that they’ll trade Conley for Outlaw straight up. Giving up on Mike C. after just 1 year would be stupid, and they already have Rudy Gay. Maybe the Blazers can land Lowry, but not Conley. You must be a Blazers fan Bob.

By: Jonny

Jonny — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:19:49 +0000

CMB!! What up kid! 1more4 here…

Oden is garbage. He’s not going to do shit. 2/3 years from now he’ll be good but this coming season let him go. Block shots? Yeah he will. Shoot a high fg%? Maybe, but it’ll only be 3/5 shots a game. He’ll be around 60% from the line. Boards will be under 10. Closer to 8. Scoring will be similar. He’ll get less than 2 dimes a game. ..but yeah he may get his 2+ bpg..

So if my stats are true where would that place him??

..and Jeeves, 75% ft dude.

By: Chicken Master Bob

Chicken Master Bob — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:57:30 +0000

Nice article Evil! Some solid predictions…

And now that you’ve called out the fact that Outlaw played heavy minutes at the 4 last season…and that he never really had to compete w/ Webster for swing-time…you think that Travis & Martell are going to platoon at the 3….this could dilute both of their fantasy values….right?….

…but let me throw a monkey wrench into the works!

Mark my words son. Outlaw is trade bait.

Rumor has it that Portland is currently talking about a Buckeye reunion. That’s right…Outlaw for Mike Conley Jr.

And if that (or any other) trade doesn’t go down before the season begins….expect to see Travis logging big minutes at Small Forward. The Blazers will want to showcase the young star to beef up his value.

By: Jeeves

Jeeves — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:15:45 +0000

It’s hard to believe Oden has great upside when he has never set foot on the NBA court. If he shot 60% FG in college, then he has to be taken a down a notch when entering the NBA. He met Georgetown in the NCAA tourney and did not dominate Hibbert, so how in the hell is going put up 75% FG in the NBA. Come on now!

By: RonMexico

RonMexico — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:31:34 +0000

Top 25 is insanity…

I put him in the top 100 because his risk of season/career ending injury is so high. I would say if healthy he’s a 60-65 guy in his rookie season and I would obviously take him even higher in a keeper league. However, anything above top 45 is just total fantasy land (no pun intended). This is a guy whose body broke down from the strain of a college season! He is totally untested in an 82 game season and that has to push him into the 80-100 range in a non keeper league.

By: Evil E

Evil E — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:52:50 +0000

Thanks Andrew. I thought it was one of my better previews. Kevin Duckworth

Why is that so hard to believe Jeeves? He shot 61.6% FG and 62.8% FT in college, but he also shot his free throws left-handed for most of the season due to his wrist injury. OK, 75% does seem a little high, but he’s not going to brick 50% either.

If I HAD to make my projections today, I would put up a conservative line of:

12.5 points, 10 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 53% FG, 68% FT

…and then give him a high upside rating because there’s potential for a lot more.